A+
8%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
10%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Marion Arkansas National
Cost of living9286100
Goods & Services9498100
Groceries10095100
Health care8788100
Housing9065100
Transportation8890100
Utilities9092100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Marion, AR

The cost of living in Marion affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Marion is 92, which is 8% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Marion closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Marion can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Marion Affordable?

Is Marion an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Marion, the median home price is 11.5% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 8% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Marion come in at $77,929, which is 40.9% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Marion?

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Marion, the utilities index stands at 10.3% lower than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Marion, the transportation index is 11.8% lower than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Marion cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Marion is 7% higher than the Arkansas average
  • The cost of living in Marion is 8% lower than the national average
  • Marion housing is 10% lower than the national average
  • Arkansas general sales tax is 27% higher than the national average
  • Arkansas state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Marion

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Compare Marion, AR Cost of Living

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$93,493$7,791$2,181$2,805
      Renters$46,906$3,909$1,094$1,407
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Marion is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Marion has a median income of about $93,493 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,181 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $46,906. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,094 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Arkansas Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Arkansas 6.5% 11.625%

      Arkansas Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Arkansas 2% 4.9%

      Goods & Services

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.94$24.2611.0%
      Beauty Salon $41.92$45.568.0%
      Toothpaste $3.62$3.702.1%
      Shampoo $1.11$1.2813.1%
      Movie $11.99$12.131.2%
      Bowling $13.75$18.0023.6%

      Groceries

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.10$5.844.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.46$1.577.0%
      Milk $4.71$4.670.8%
      Potatoes $5.15$4.934.3%
      Pizza $10.66$12.0911.8%
      Beer $9.95$10.414.4%

      Health Care

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $77.39$125.6838.4%
      Doctor $124.94$135.788.0%
      Dentist $91.51$113.2919.2%
      Ibuprofen $10.19$10.654.4%
      Lipitor $518.09$468.6010.6%

      Housing

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Home Price $163,500.00$184,700.0011.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,240.45$2,346.694.5%
      Apartment Rent $873.00$949.008.0%

      Transportation

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.14$3.469.3%
      Tire Balancing $55.67$59.927.1%

      Utilities

      Item Marion National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $163.38$193.9915.8%
      Phone $192.72$192.250.2%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Jennette, AR617327.2%
      Anthonyville, AR687624.3%
      Sunset, AR2297722.7%
      Earle, AR2,1747921.5%
      Turrell, AR6047920.9%
      Marion, AR12,371927.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Fairfax Station, VA12,36417474.3%
      New Kensington, PA12,3788811.7%
      Larkspur, CA12,363258157.7%
      Lakeland Village, CA12,36212928.6%
      Urbana, MD12,36215756.9%
      Marion, AR12,371927.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.